Holison Joshua, Abuja
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation as the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, paid a courtesy visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a press release signed by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the visit was aimed at further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship and defence cooperation between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The statement said the engagement provided an opportunity for both sides to reaffirm their commitment to stronger military-to-military relations and explore additional areas of cooperation of mutual importance.
Receiving the Ambassador, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the Kingdom’s continued goodwill and interest in strengthening relations with the country.
Oluyede stressed the importance of sustaining and expanding existing areas of military cooperation, particularly initiatives aimed at improving the professional capacity, operational effectiveness and institutional capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Saudi Ambassador described Nigeria as an important partner in Africa and expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to promote closer engagement with Nigeria, particularly in the defence and security sectors.
Both sides, according to the statement, acknowledged that stronger institutional and professional links between their armed forces would contribute to improved cooperation in addressing common security challenges.
The Chief of Defence Staff appreciated the Ambassador for the continued goodwill of the Kingdom towards Nigeria and expressed optimism that the discussions would translate into tangible areas of cooperation.
The engagement underscores the commitment of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to strengthening their bilateral partnership and advancing shared interests in peace, security and stability.
